Spanish Wine Experts Honored at the Annual Knights of the Great Order of Wine Dinner

Organised by FWS ICEX, in collaboration with the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture under the Spain Food Nation campaign, the annual Investiture Dinner celebrates the continuing work of the organisation and its members in promoting Spanish wines in the UK. Each year, the Gran Orden selects three individuals in recognition of their work championing the wines of Spain. These are the UK winemakers, winery owners, restaurateurs, broadcasters, educators, importers, journalists, and retailers who continue to showcase the diversity and exceptional quality of modern Spanish wine.

This year’s new Caballeros were formally welcomed at the 41st Annual Investiture Dinner at the Landmark London Hotel on June 4, in front of over 250 key members of the trade from across the UK and Spain.

The new Caballeros announced at this year’s event were: Amelia Aragón, a prominent Spanish vintner and the Export Director for the acclaimed family-owned Bodegas Cillar de Silos in DO Ribera del Duero; Josep Roca, widely acknowledged as one of the world’s best wine sommeliers, renowned for his work at three-Michelin-starred restaurant El Celler de Can Roca; and Rafael Palacios, one of Spain’s pre-eminent winemakers, globally celebrated for championing the white Godello grape.

Guests enjoyed a bespoke menu created in collaboration between Caballeros Chefs and the Landmark London Hotel’s Executive Chef, expertly paired with selected Spanish wines to toast the new members.

The Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino was founded in 1984 to recognise those persons who promote and spread Spanish wine culture in the UK market, one of the main destinations for Spanish wines.